Honigman has established a presence in Boston with the addition of three intellectual property partners, expanding the firm’s national footprint and strengthening its life sciences practice in one of the country’s major biotechnology and pharmaceutical markets.
The firm has recruited Cristin Cowles, Ph.D., Danielle Herritt, and Deborah Vernon, Ph.D., from Womble Bond Dickinson. Their arrival adds expertise in patent prosecution, intellectual property portfolio management, pharmaceutical patent disputes, licensing, and technology transactions.
The Boston expansion supports Honigman’s strategy of strengthening its representation of life sciences companies, including biotechnology businesses, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and organizations developing emerging healthcare technologies.
Cowles focuses on patent prosecution, lifecycle management, due diligence, patentability analyses, freedom-to-operate assessments, inventorship investigations, and patent validity opinions.
Her practice includes molecular biology and biochemistry technologies, with experience managing international patent portfolios involving therapeutic antibodies, clinical-stage antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates.
Herritt brings experience securing and defending pharmaceutical patents, including patents listed in the FDA’s Orange Book. She has represented clients in proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and appeals before the Federal Circuit.
Her work includes intellectual property matters involving small-molecule and peptide-based drugs, commercial products, transactional due diligence, and disputes with development partners.
Vernon focuses on intellectual property matters involving chemical and mechanical technologies. Her experience includes patent prosecution, appeals, reissue proceedings, reexaminations, and contested patent matters.
She has also advised on intellectual property due diligence for corporate financing transactions and negotiated technology licensing and product development agreements.
Honigman’s Boston presence allows the firm to expand relationships with companies operating in a major center of biotechnology innovation, pharmaceutical research, and venture capital investment.
The expansion also complements its existing intellectual property and life sciences capabilities.
Honigman is a full-service law firm with more than 400 attorneys advising clients on business, litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters. Its operations include offices in Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, other Michigan locations, and Israel.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our expansion into Boston is a true indication of the firm’s health and momentum. Establishing a presence in this important innovation hub will strengthen our ability to serve life sciences clients and expand our reach in a key strategic market.”
David Foltyn, CEO And Chairman Of Honigman
“Cristin, Danielle, and Deborah bring exceptional experience and capabilities that complement the strengths of our intellectual property and life sciences teams. Their addition deepens the sophisticated counsel we can provide to clients navigating complex IP matters, while creating opportunities to further grow our practice in a market where many of our attorneys have long-term client relationships.”
Harold Fox, Ph.D., Co-Leader Of Honigman’s Life Sciences Group And Co-Chair Of The Intellectual Property Department
